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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Transportation Advisory Committee 2014-07-16 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, July 16th, 2014 Minutes of a Regular meeting of the Transportation Advisory Committee of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held in the Town Hall Rooms 202 & 203, in said Town of Estes Park on the 16th day of July, 2014. Present: Kimberly Campbell Gregg Rounds Stan Black Belle Morris Ann Finley Bryon Holmes Also Present: Kevin Ash, Public Works Interim Director/Civil Engineer Jen Imber, Public Works Administrative Assistant Frank Lancaster, Town Administrator Kate Rusch, Public Information Officer John Simmerman, Active Towns Co-founder Absent: Cory LaBianca Thom Widawski John Ericson, Town Board Liaison Kimberly Campbell called the meeting to order at 12:0 5 p.m. GENERAL DISCUSSION Minutes from the May 21st and June 18th meetings were reviewed by members. It was moved and seconded (Black/Finley) to approve the May minutes, with the motion passing unanimously. It was moved and seconded (Holmes/Rounds) to approve the June minutes, with the motion passing unanimously. Administrator Lancaster spoke of the committee’s role as advocates to the Town Board. It was clarified that the TAC has been authorized only to be advocates to the Town Trustees and should not extend their committee advocacy beyond that role without the approval of the Town Board. Active Towns founder John Simmerman attended and gave a brief overview of the organization’s mission and how it could be beneficial to the Estes Park community. Mr. Simmerman spoke developing a culture of physical activity and of the benefits of an active bike and pedestrian friendly community. More information on the organization can be found at www.activetowns.org. Stan Black brought forward a discussion on paid event parking at the Fairgrounds Transit Facility. He felt it could create confusion for guests directed by signage to this free parking location, only to arrive and discover a charge for parking. The committee suggested a re-branding of the Fairgrounds Transit Facility with the construction of the Visitor Center Parking Structure and the FLAP project. COMMITTEE VACANCY It was moved and seconded (Morris/Finley) to keep the committee size at the current number of nine members and to immediately post to fill the vacancy. The motion passed unanimously. Jen Imber will work with Human Resources to immediately post an advertisement in the local newspaper for the vacancy. FLAP UPDATES Chair Campbell updated the committee on the FLAP design process and potential opportunity for involvement. The design stage will be a very structured process, beginning with the NEPA study and the FLAP TAC. The FLAP TAC will conduct an extensive public outreach program, including stakeholder groups that may include downtown businesses, the Estes Park Cycling Coalition and members of the Town’s TAC. These stakeholders will serve in an advisory role to the FLAP TAC. Transportation Advisory Committee – July 16th, 2014 – Page 2 Communications to the public will be starting soon with a press release. Any technical questions TAC members receive from the public should be directed to PIO Kate Rusch or the FLAP TAC. VISITOR CENTER PARKING STRUCTURE UPDATE The proposed parking structure is currently over budget with construction cost. It was necessary to remove many features, mostly aesthetic, in order to lower construction cost. No parking spaces were removed from the design, but the end product will be an aesthetically different structure from the original design. The committee believes this is an important project to complete and is in favor of making the necessary cuts to move forward with construction. However, the committee considers the aesthetics of the building a very important aspect to the community and wo uld like to upgrade aesthetics wherever possible in lieu of other upgrades such as restrooms. DOWNTOWN EMPLOYEE PARKING PROJECT The Town Board has identified paid parking as a 2015 objective. Due to this development, Chair Campbell suggested tabling the Downtown Parking discussion in order to sync with the Trustees’ discussion. Kimberly Campbell adjourned the meeting at 1:58 p.m.